Britain has said it will buy at least 48 jump jet F-35Bs and the new planes will fly from the 65,000 ton HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. Three British planes have been delivered and are being tested by British pilots in the US before they are due to enter service in 2018.

A US Air Force F-35 was badly damaged when it caught fire last week as it prepared for take-off at an airbase in Florida. Defence officials have now ordered inspections of all the F-35 Pratt & Whitney engines and are examining debris found on the runway after the blaze.

The fire delayed plans to fly three US Marine and one RAF F-35 across the Atlantic earlier this week in time for the naming of HMS Queen Elizabeth at Rosyth Dockyard. US officials said last month they hoped the plane would make its international debut at the ceremony.

Capt Richard Ulsh, spokesman for the US Marines, said the planes would not attend on Friday.

He said: “The inclusion of F-35Bs in the HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier naming ceremony was explored, but neither the United States Marine Corps nor the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed or announced their participation.

“The Marine Corps is still planning for its deployment to the UK in support of both the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough International Air Show."

An RAF source added: “This is flight safety. The last thing we want to do is park an F-35 in the Atlantic.”

Earlier this year, Michael Gilmore, the US military’s chief weapons tester, said the plane was proving less reliable and harder to maintain than expected.

British military chiefs say “teething problems” are to be expected during the development of new aircraft and will be ironed out before the planes become operational.

A MoD spokesman said: “The state of the art Lightning II is due to be in the UK at the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough International Air Shows, which begin next week. The flight displays at the shows will include a short take off and a demonstration of the aircraft in the hover.”